Address: Rued Langgaards Vej 7, 2300 København S, Denmark
Computer Science, Digital Design, Business IT
Founded in 1999, the IT University of Copenhagen is Denmark’s youngest university and a leading institution for education and research in the field of information technology. It is a specialized, independent university focusing solely on IT.
The IT University of Copenhagen, ITU, was created in 1999 as a university dedicated entirely to information technology, which still makes it unusual in Europe. It has about 2,600 students and 700 staff, and one student in five comes from abroad. The building is in the Ørestad district on Amager, next to the Copenhagen University South campus, in a glass-and-concrete block organised around an open atrium.
Teaching covers computer science, software development, digital design, games, data science and business IT. The Games programme is one of the most respected in Northern Europe and has produced graduates who work at studios in Denmark and abroad. The university is also strong in information security, the interaction between humans and computers, and the study of digital technology in society, which allows students to combine technical work with design and management.
Research is organised in several departments and centres, with activity in algorithms, programming languages, software engineering, artificial intelligence, data-intensive systems and games research. Many projects are carried out with Danish companies and public bodies, and the university runs an innovation lab where student teams can test ideas with external partners. Courses place a heavy emphasis on group projects and practical delivery.
Tuition is free for EU, EEA and Swiss students, and other students pay fees. Bachelor programmes are taught in both Danish and English, and the master’s degrees are mostly in English. Admission to the bachelor’s programmes follows the national Danish application system, while the master’s degrees have their own application with a portfolio or relevant background.
Copenhagen offers a thriving technology scene, and many students work part-time in companies while studying. Housing is the main difficulty and should be arranged early. About 8,000 people have graduated from ITU, and its alumni are visible in the Danish software and games industry.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ergonomics and UX, Project Management, Software Engineering, Telecommunications
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
ITU has strong ties with the IT industry, with many part-time lecturers from the industry and a focus on collaborative projects with companies like Microsoft, Google, and numerous Danish tech firms.
Research:
Research at ITU is interdisciplinary, covering aspects of computer science, business, design, and digital culture. Key research areas include algorithms, data science, and the interaction between technology and society.
Famous Alumnis:
N/A
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
700
Current students***:
2600
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
8000
Pros
A highly specialized and modern university with a strong focus on the latest IT trends. It has a vibrant entrepreneurial environment and close links to the tech industry.
Cons
Its narrow focus on IT means it does not offer the comprehensive university experience. The workload can be very intensive.
Best For
Students passionate about information technology who want a specialized, research-based education in a modern, innovative environment.
Anyone who wants a second school in the same country with a similar spread of project management and data analytics can consider Roskilde University, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Aalborg University works in much the same fields, chiefly project management, telecommunications and AI and machine learning, and it covers robotics and ecology and sustainability as well, and is far larger, with about 20,000 students against roughly 2,600 here.
University of Southern Denmark sits close to this institution on AI and machine learning and software engineering; it is far larger, with about 27,000 students against roughly 2,600 here, and is also a public institution.
For students who like the data analytics and software engineering focus of this university but want another option nearby, Technical Education Copenhagen fits well: it covers transportations and civil engineering as well, and is larger, enrolling about 4,500 students against roughly 2,600 here.
The comparison with UCL University College is straightforward on subjects, since both focus on data analytics and software engineering, and it is far larger, with about 11,000 students against roughly 2,600 here, and is also a public institution.
For a study option in Ukraine with a comparable spread of ergonomics and UX, project management and computer vision, International European University is the reference point: it is private, whereas this institution is public, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
The closest overseas parallel on computer vision, telecommunications and data analytics is Indian Institute of Information Technology Sri City, located in India; it is smaller, enrolling about 1,000 students against roughly 2,600 here, and is also a public institution.
Looking internationally, Universität Mannheim in Germany is where project management, computer vision and telecommunications get a comparable treatment; it is also a public institution and also offers mba programmes.
Pyatigorsk State University in Russia is the nearest foreign match on ergonomics and UX, project management and telecommunications; it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is ITU?
The IT University of Copenhagen is at Rued Langgaards Vej 7 in the Ørestad district of Copenhagen, on Amager.
How large is ITU?
About 2,600 students and 700 staff, with about 20 percent of students from abroad.
When was it founded?
In 1999, as a university dedicated to information technology.
What can you study at ITU?
Computer science, software development, digital design, games, data science and business IT.
Is the games programme well known?
Yes. It is among the most respected games programmes in Northern Europe and its graduates work at studios in Denmark and abroad.
What language is used for teaching?
Bachelor programmes are taught in Danish and English. Master's degrees are mostly in English.
Is tuition free?
Yes for students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Others pay fees that depend on the programme.
What are the main research areas?
Algorithms, software engineering, artificial intelligence, information security, human-computer interaction and games research.
How do students work?
Courses emphasise group projects and practical delivery, often with external partners.
Is it hard to find housing?
Yes, student housing in Copenhagen is scarce, so it should be arranged as early as possible.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Twin, Information Technology (IT), Machine Learning, Software
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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